i would also like to thank the outstanding morgan state university choir for being here today. so here we go. >> whereas -- >> the united states fought a global war against great britain and its colonies from june 18th, 1812 until february 18th 1850 and -- >> whereas. >> nearly two years of peace between the united kingdom of great britain and the united states of america have existed since the conclusion of that war and -- >> whereas -- >> -- the colonies of canada unified as the providence of canada in 1841 attained confederation status in 1867, and then by virtue of the statute of westminster in 1931, achieved recognition as an independent nation and -- >> whereas -- >> -- the current border between canada and the united states stands as the longest, unguarded and demilitarizeded border in the world and -- >> whereas -- >> -- the national park service and parks, canada, are working together as part of an international effort to recognize and commemorate the buy scentennial of the war of 18912 and -- >> whereas -- >> -- can and the united states became staunch allies as they